Taking a break -post 2009

Wow, what a year, and good riddance. 2 months ago, moved out due to "economic" necessity, somewhat akin to economic migration. The bank, Wachovia, after multiple request and applications did not refinance or modify home loan secured on documented income. However, they gave a deferment of 3 months with interest and fees added to the principal. This occurred well into the US President's Making Home Affordable edict had passed. My former home lost nearly 100k in value from purchase price, and its loan interest rate over 7%. The bank or the corporation, heart set to profit, with individuals affiliated deriving livelihood and sense of identity are not high among people with whom to break bread.

Laid off in September 2007, started an independent contracting business during the beginnings of the great recession, and held 2 PT positions. There were inadequate engagements (preferred portfolio of 5-6 on going clients), with payment schedule often times late -- keeping up with housing cost was challenging.

Making ends meet by cutting expenses, not contributing to retirement, and health insurance premiums taking 1/8 of take home salary --it is a wonder, how much effort was exerted to stay financially and emotionally afloat. All fronts were unrelenting.

Not allowing the gloom to permeate life as experienced, its challenges colored the day to day. Supportive friends offering tangible practical assistance, yoga, and appreciating waking every day was all soothing balms. The chance to re-create one’s self requires hope and keeping to a promise of doing the best you can.

Living my version of an American dream: immigrated at a young age, schooled when California led the way to high quality public post secondary education, option to leave jobs encumbered with petty politics, management lacking in creativity or tenacity, or lost its intentions for doing good, still have a home with a mortgage in the Bay Area (where my mother lives) – and writing about it, why would I not be thankful.

I need a break to breathe, pause, celebrate, and mark the coming of a new phase in adult life. Dave and I are heading to New Orleans for music, food and most importantly friendship and love. Angelamia and I have known one another since the age of twelve, our birthdays only 3days apart. She is an inspiration, keeping up a good fight after 2 major surgeries, surviving breast cancer, and rebuilding post Katrina, she rocks. Love at middle age. She found her life mate in the course of rebuilding, and recently became domestic partners. Important to her was returning to teaching music, kids and teenagers, her passion, while working in construction. She is unwavering in her commitment to herself as a creative person, working and real.

2010 is a year to look forward too, living day by day, staying true to the person I’m becoming --surrounded by loving people, memories and experiences made.

lighting solutions

moi prepping to prep

replaced the installed dome overhead fixtures with track lighting. though seemingly a cliche or so 1980's, its a functional strategy to highlight to be mounted art pieces, crafts. note the beams crossing the length of the studio, seems to scream stage lighting...

storage project on hold

future storage corner? build out static closet or movable fixture. reality or current given -- plastic storage bins are amassing, boxes to be emptied. this project is on hold till public/private spaces are completed. Note: the accent wall here I've dubbed chocolate brown next to the mimosa kitchen.

cheerful hearth

kitchen before and after move in sans appliances, cabinets and mimosa walls, the ceiling to completed will be the semi gloss frost white, in keeping with reflection and warmth scheme.

space division

division is another constant when moving into a "raw" space. allocate based on need, aesthetic order of how the space can be worked out, function, utility, need for light or view onto world outside. in conceiving the studio/loft use, i preferred to have a view to the outside world when looking away from the desk or laptop screen.

color vs no color

one of the first challenges, after the space layout was determined is what to do about color? color can help define space, create a feeling sense of the place and hints of the person's inner workings in a site specific effort.

the solutions: mimosa wall accent, mimosa kitchen, suede columns and beams, candle light ivory as the "gallery" wall color.

Studio Loft Update

one of many responses to storage needs, a bed with drawers, courtesy of a craigslist post from SF. the bed instantly added 12 drawers in the sleeping corner

mattress courtesy of DJRobynn, as she was replacing a temperpedic mattress, there is now a queen size bed.

Living LOFT (a series)

Its down to the wire... After having the keys for almost two weeks and making plans to occupy week of Jan 20, the pressure to perform is on. Hired a handy man (referral and contact info forthcoming after my project is done), to assist in building out partitions, painting, and building closet and other storage spaces.

Decided on the color scheme. Inspired by the SE Asian batik gifted many years ago from a friend who associated me to the piece when she saw it, and Buddhist influences. The base color is candle light ivory, paired with Mimosa, and suede as the 3rd color. The intention is to give the illusion of being in a warm glowing space with touches of wood (tones) and fully utilizing the teak danish furniture accumulated over time.

Late last night, after painting a wall and priming the bathroom ceiling, attributing it to the fumes, I commented to my self this is to much work for a rental. I placed sweat equity in my last condo, somehow this is an anomaly. I do, however, see this is the home, I'd wanted to have, and possession, equity, nor tax benefit were operating when assessing the effort and money I've sunk into living in a converted warehouse space.

My initial take, the colors accomplished what I had in mind. The mimosa was the closest to the Saffron I visualized, suede similarly will appear to have the warmth of wood beams as well as other monastic wear.

Already anticipate shedding many possessions, since there will not be sufficient storage after those planned are completed. Is this conscious, on my part, to live minimally and with quality in mind.

Quality by way of speaking to richness of life history and influences, as well as identifying the sources of inspiration from materials held for periods of time.

Text of Barack Obama Nobel Prize acceptance speech

Text of Barack Obama Nobel Prize acceptance speech

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Loft Space Management

A big challenge in an open space is to divide it in a way where it does not compromise flow and light. Here are preliminary thoughts on efficient, affordable, low intensity effort projects.

Basic ideas: Storage and Partition
a) modular
b) allows light to permeate or does not block considerable amount of light
c) amendable for "modification" (example: painting, covering)
d) dual or more purpose
e) affordable
f) scale to space

Considerations/components
1) On wheels/casters
2) Change out back or doors with clear material (possibly glass)
3) Pre-fab (recycled)

Solution(s) to follow.

To dream and making it happen

Dream first, do the homework, mix in plenty of luck and some patience voila. I will now be living in a loft style apartment from a warehouse conversion in West Oakland.

Pictures are attached below for reference, new living quarters will be subject of many future posts.

How will I deal with
A) Storage
B) Partition of space
C) Floor covering
D) Wall and Ceiling Color
E) in less than 14 days before moving?

makes for interesting Storage

Views from the Kitchen

Raw Private and Public Space

LOFT style LIVING (B4 and After shots)